2 HN users recommended this documentary2 months2019–2024score 2
Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026
Recommended as a charming primary source on animation technique and for Walt Disney's warm on-camera presence.
A 1957 Walt Disney film in which he explains and demonstrates the multiplane camera, the animation tool that gave 2D films depth. It is a short behind-the-scenes piece from Disney's archives.
“Here's a fascinating video in which Walt Disney showcases how his multiplane camera worked” (HN, 2019)
That's a good example. Look at the video showing off this exact tech: [this video] You feel like you are part of the family while watching this. It's a completely different vibe. Honestly, I feel vaguely threatened by the HoloTile Floor demo tone. The way he answers the question about what's it's going to be used for feels like a parent that doesn't want to reveal something to a child.
Warm, family-like Walt Disney presentation contrasted with HoloTile demo.
This is really nice. Although Disney is only currently producing 3D animation films, it's a bit of a shame that nothing about 2D animation is included. The 3D animated film Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) has a refreshing 3D/2D hybrid visual look that breaks away from the 3D aesthetic common across the industry. I suspect in the future we'll see more animated films with a 2D aesthetic but created with 3D software. Aside : Disney produced lots of behind-the-scenes for their 2D animated films in the 50s and 60s. Here's one on the MultiPlane Camera - a camera setup that gave 2D animation greater depth: Walt Disney's MultiPlane Camera (1957): [this video]
Disney behind-the-scenes film on the 2D multiplane camera.
I built a multi-plane camera setup in high school for an animation project in, without knowing it was a thing used in the industry. My version was very simple. Instead of stacking the planes, I hung them from yardsticks spanned between two tables, so I could slide the planes forward toward the camera at different rates of speed. Here is a short doc from Disney (1957) about the invention of the first multi plane camera: [this video]
Short 1957 Disney documentary on inventing the first multiplane camera.
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